US says Mike Pompeo won’t go to Taiwan after Chinese state media warns such a trip may ‘trigger a war’
- Spokeswoman tweets that Europe tour will be his final as secretary of state and says China’s ‘nervous panic diplomacy is unwarranted and dangerous’
- Global Times commentary said Beijing’s response would be ‘overwhelming’ if Pompeo visited island after lifting restrictions on official contacts
State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus tweeted that Pompeo’s upcoming trip to Europe would be his final overseas tour as secretary of state. She was responding to a commentary in Chinese state tabloid Global Times that warned a Taiwan visit by Pompeo could lead to war.
“There are no plans to travel to #Taiwan this week but we will continue our consistent support for Taiwan as a successful market economy, vibrant democracy, and force for good in the world,” Ortagus said in the tweet.
“The CCP [Chinese Communist Party] must act responsibly and stop believing the lies in their own propaganda. Their nervous panic diplomacy is unwarranted and dangerous.”
He said the restrictions had been adopted “in an attempt to appease the communist regime in Beijing”, and in future all official engagements with Taiwan should be handled through the American Institute in Taiwan – the de facto US embassy.
